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Saturday, September 8, 2018

September Friendship
Postcard Hop
Winner of stitching shirt
Styling with Stitches
SAL update

In this past year we have had the privilege to get to know so many of you and you have become a part of our "stitching friends" family.   Right now one of our dearest stitching friends is going through a very rough time.   If you have read Vickie's postyou know that Jenny's husband Scott's cancer has spread.  We need prayers, lots and lots of prayers for this very kind and loving family.

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Postcard Hop

Jo has started this enjoyable hop where you send a summer cross stitch postcard to an online stitching friend.  We received a beautiful card from lovely Kaye in Australia  She wrote: "Dreaming of summer on freezing winter day Downunder"


Isn't it a great summer stitch?   We love the colors and the pretty house and of course the big flag.  Thank you so much Kaye for thinking of us.  We enjoyed receiving your wonderful postcard

You can visit Kaye and see more of her lovely stitches at http://kittenstitching.blogspot.com/

You can read more about this fun hop at Jo's blog at www.serendipitousstitchingblogspot.co.uk

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Winner

Congratulations Vickie on winning the sweet cross stitch shirt that Mary brought home from her favorite cross stitch store in Florida.



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Styling with Stitches

This is our friendship month so our stitches today are ones we have made for each other. Having a best friend to stitch for is more fun than even stitching for yourself.   And when you hear they love it, it makes all of the hard work worth it.  So we thought you would enjoy seeing two of the gifts we sent to each other that made us both very happy.


RJ's
For my gift to Mary, I chose the pattern Mary Valentine's Handework.   Mary loves birds and WTNT designs so I thought she would like this one a lot.  I fell in love with it the minute I saw it.   My favorite part is how the wing of the bird is satin stitched and how that makes it stand out.   I also like the urn and pretty flowers.

To finish I used the perfect fabric that Mary found at a quilt show (she didn't know that she was contributing to her gift)   It blended so well with the thread colors and mimics the flowers in the stitch.  I did a herringbone stitch between the cross stitch and the fabric and then added a basket charm.

This is the first door hanging I did with the closing in the back and I'll be doing them that way from now on.   It gives such a nice look and sits on the bottom perfectly.  This is one I'll be making for myself too!

I love the beautiful setting Mary used to photograph my stitched gift to her

The gorgeous vase came from Mary's Aunt.  It was a gift Mary's parents gave her Grandmother when they were dating.  Mary admired it while visiting her Aunt in Florida and weeks later it arrived in the mail to her home.  She does such wonderful flower displays and this beautiful vase is the perfect accompaniment 

Closeup of my favorite parts: the satin wing, the basket charm and the herrringbone stitch


Mary Valentine's Handework
by With thy Needle and Thread
40 ct. country mocha linen
over dyed threads from my stash
charm from Bohemian Findings at Etsy

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Mary's
For RJ's gift I chose Button Button! from With thy Needle and Thread by Brenda Gervais.  I could not go wrong selecting a pattern by Brenda as RJ loves her designs and if you haven't realized already, Brenda is my favorite designer.

The pretty blue birds are what originally attracted me to this stitch but I had an idea of another use for this pattern.  If you are not familiar with this pattern it is shown with rows of buttons in the blank space under the birds. Instead of sewing on the buttons and having it as a solely decorative piece, I thought that area would be perfect to hold your threaded needles when stitching.

So, I enlisted the talented Faye Riggsbee of Carolina Stitcher blog to fulfill my vision. ( I wanted a standing flat fold for this project and my sewing skills were not up to the task.)

Faye exceeded my expectations!! I love how she added the pretty blue wool fabric to line the back and layered it to hold the needles.  The standing flat fold is so practical and yet decorative.  I was thrilled with her finishing and I know RJ was too!!  

RJ styled such a pretty vignette! 

I hope RJ enjoys many years of use! 

 Cording and pretty little beaded pins on the sides

Buttons Buttons!
by With Thy Needle and Thread
32 ct. linen
called for threads
Finishing by Carolina Stitcher

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SAL update
We are so close to being finished! This has been such a pleasure to stitch   Here is our newest progress.

RJ's SAL
It's almost done!!!

Closeup of the new stitches


Mary's SAL


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We love having you stop by for a visit.  Next post is our grab bag and it will be fun.   We love visiting your blogs too so let us know if we don't know about you yet so we can add you to our sidebar.   And, thank you so much for becoming "Stitching Friends".  You all are much appreciated.


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        Friends are God's way of taking care of us. 

35 comments:

  1. Totally enjoyed reading today's post! Your SAL pieces are in the home stretch and looking fabulous. I like the gifts that you stitched for each other. Congratulations to Vickie on winning the T-shirt! Your postcard from Kaye is a sweet reminder of summer.

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  2. I am so very glad you mentioned Jenny and Scott and the need for prayers here. Yes, we need a MIRACLE!!
    What a pretty postcard from Kaye.
    Thank you, thank you for this AWESOME T-shirt! I can't wait to receive it and wear it!
    I love your bird stitches and gifts to each other. How pretty and sweet.

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  3. Always look forward to your post ,love the designs you both stitched for each other .
    Love the finish on both too.
    I am so happy you both joined us in blog land .
    Enjoy your weekend .

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  4. Lovely stitching, as always. i especially like the forget me not design. x

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  5. Such a fun t-shirt; congratulations to Vickie! I love the designs you both stitched, and how clever/sneaky to get Mary to pick her finishing fabric x

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  6. Congrats to Vickie!!!
    Your gifts to each other are lovely tributes of your special friendship.Looks the end is in sight for your SAL--great job ladies!!!

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  7. Wonderful stitching... and I noticed that we both have the same pair of scissors!

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  8. What wonderful projects. The flowers look very elegant in he vase.

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  9. Wow! Ladies, you are two talented stitchers - just love all of these projects. Also, I am so glad that you enjoyed my postcard - it was nice to think of Summer in the middle of a Cold, Cold Winter - Brrr!

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  10. You both made lovely gifts for each other. That post card is wonderful plus all of us waiting patiently for Fall. Down there , they are thinking spring!

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  11. Hi RJ and Mary,
    Yeah, the Kaye card is really great, I like it.
    Your two gifts for friends are great, I like them both, so different designs and both with a great finish. Bravo.
    Great progress even with your SAL, I like this one very well.
    Both of you a very nice sunday,
    Martina

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  12. Great gift finishes!
    Quaker Handework is beautiful.
    Marilyn

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  13. Hello Mary and RJ,
    the postcard from Kaye is wonderful.
    Wonderful gifts for eachother. The finishes are perfect.
    I like your SAL, great progress.
    Happy Weekend to both of you.
    Hugs, Manuela

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  14. Wow! Kudos to both of you for these gorgeous creations! So sweet to see two friends that are so generous with one another.
    And Brenda Gervais wins!

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  15. Thanks for taking part in the Summer Postcard Blog Hop. I love that this is Friendship month too, the perfect timing!
    Your exchange pieces are as gorgeous as always.

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  16. Vous avez bien avancé sur votre SAL. C'est vraiment très beau.
    La carte postale de Kaye est fort jolie. C'est un plaisir que d'en recevoir de telle.
    Le coussinet est un merveilleux témoignage d'amitié. A garder précieusement.
    A bientôt,
    Christel
    http://toilesetfils.blogspot.com

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  17. A lovely postcard from Kaye in the blog hop.
    The SAL is looking superb, well done to the both of you.
    Love the exchange pieces you both made, so very different each of them.
    xx

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  18. A lovely postcard from Kaye and congrats to Vickie for her pink stitchers shirt! Maybe she'll wear it with a poodle pin haha. :)

    The friendship exchange is wonderful and nice that you both picked birds! Herringbone stitches are some of my favorites; there needs to be more pieces with them! The little pinned stack of buttons amuses me. I could just see myself losing them haha~

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  19. I always get excited when I see a post from my stitching friends. You have such wonderful ideas to share!!

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  20. Such pretty gifts Mary and RJ - the care in stitching and personalized finishing are without equal.

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  21. True, it must be wonderful to have a best friend who also does cross stitch. And then stitching a gift for each other. A lovely idea indeed. I love both your choices, Mary and RJ, and I also love what you made the stitched pieces into. Such thoughtful gifts.
    Nice progress on your Quaker SAL piece.

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  22. I am late commenting as I was in Auburn for the weekend. I just couldn't get the phone comment to go through. I love the gifts you did for each other and your SALs are wonderful. I need to do a SAL to keep me on track:)

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  23. Beautiful gifts you two have stitched for each other! Your SAL looks awesome ladies. Do you have another one lined up for when you are finished?

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  24. adoro i regali, sono bellissimi!! Un pensiero e una preghiera per Jenny e Scott.

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  25. Hello dear RJ and Mary,

    How sweet to include Jenny and Scott in your post. I am praying with you all.
    Your friendship stitches are gorgeous and so is the SAL. You are both so creative in finding cute ways to finish a project! Love that.

    Take care & hugs across the ocean, Carolien

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  26. Yes, prayers for Scott and family.
    Sweet card from Kaye, I love what she wrote! Lucky Vickie, I hope she posts a picture of her wearing it.
    You both have such a special friendship, it's so nice to see. Such beautiful gifts you made each other, treasures forever.
    Great progress on the SAL. Do you already have another one in mind when you're finished?

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  27. Lovely pieces, RJ and Mary!
    Such a beautiful progress on the stitch-a-long!

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  28. I think I have missed the Summer Postcard Hop - the ones I have seen look lovely. Giving gifts is one of the joys in life, both your gifts are gorgeous. The SALs are looking great too.

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  29. Beautiful gifts to one another. They are delightful. Love the SALs, great progress.

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  30. Hi RJ and Mary! Love the gifts you made each other, such lovely finishes.
    Love the postcard from Kaye, so sweet!
    Your SALs are progressing nicely.
    Barbara x

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  31. Always a joy to read your blog. Your Styling With Stitches this month are my favorite thing, I love love WTNT! Thanks for sharing!

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  32. Hi, ladies! Trying a third time to see if I can leave a comment. I’m having one of “those” days where my iPad and I don’t get along.

    Your gifts to one another are so pretty. RJ, that herringbone stitch is PERFECT. I love the finish! I have a couple of small things to finish, and I would love to try that. And Mary, the flat fold turned out beautifully! I have never done one but would love to try. How awesome to have a connection with someone who can do such beautiful handwork as your friend, Faye.

    Wishing you both a great weekend with lots of stitching time. Your SAL is gorgeous!

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  33. Your gifts to each other are just so beautiful. I love how they've been finished and everything about them. You are both so talented.

    You're both making wonderful progress on your SALs.

    I haven't been visiting blogs or blogging myself for a while so it is lovely to catch up with you both. Thank you for commenting on my blog after I've been away for a while :)

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  34. Another interesting posting, thank you so much!
    I also like the summer card very much.
    And your gifts to each other are so wonderful, you know what the other likes.
    The progress photos of the SAL are great, you will be done soon.
    Kind regards, Jutta

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  35. I landed here while doing the postcard hop...and you received a lovely one!! Beautiful stitching and finishing, it was fun to peek at all you've been doing! I think I'm jealous of Mary!! haha

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